Safety lock for motor vehicles



G. A. SOKOLOVE. SAFETY LOCK F'TR MoToR vEHmLEs.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1920.

1,424,599. Patented Aug. 1, 1922, l Y 3 sHEETs-SHEET l.

4&1/ i -i5 94(042 l49 @i4 G; A. so'KoLovE.

SAFETY LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. H, 1920.

Ratented Aug. 1, 1922.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 5 67 o 55 60 @4 /Q Q5 APPLICATION AFILED MAR. II`

Patented Augu 1, 1922.

-SHEET 3.v

a sums- GEORGE A. 'soizoLovEV 05E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAFETY LOCK FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed `March 1 To all to from t may concern.'

lle it known that l, GEORGE A. SoKoLovE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, havel invented certain Improvements in Safety Locksrfor Motor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. l y

My invention relates to safety lool; devices tor automobiles, and the object of my invention is to provide a device comparau tively simple in construction and easilyattachable to-the dash-board or other suitable part an automobile, which comprises a means tor breaking` the ignit-ion circuit of the motor, and for preventing any but the rightful owner trom closing` ther said ignition circuit after it is once broken.

still `further object is to provide an alarm and mechanism whereby anyone tampering with 'the lock device 'other than the rightful owner will sound said alarm.

Br still further object'of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby after the alarm is once sounded, one is unable without ctmsderable ydelay to shut the alarm off or .to reset Athe mechanism controlling the igniti' n circuit so as to permit the ignition circuit being closed.

lin the attached drawings:

Figure 1, is a plan view of my device with the cover plate in place;

Fig. Q. ie a horizontal section of the device talren on the line 2 2, Fig. 3;

Fig. is a vertical section of my device taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. is a vertical section of they upper portion of my device taken on theline 4 4, Fig. 2. and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7, are vertical sections of portions ot my device taken on the lines 6 6 and 7 7, respectively, of Fig. 2.

`With reference to the drawings, 1 indicates a shallow bowl-shaped casing, and 2 a cover plate vadapted to be secured thereto. Suitahly mounted within the casing 1 and immovable with respect thereto is a second bowl-shaped casing` 3 made, preferably, of liber or other insulating' material. In the present instance vthe casing 3 is shown disposed within a member 4, which is rotatably mounted upon a stud Vin the bottomy of the casing 1, said member having comparatively thick side walls 4a. The member 4 isiXed to a pin 6, the lower end of which extends through the stud 5 and. the bottom of the casing-1, said shaft alsoextending upwardly .Speciication'of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

1, 920. Serial No. 364,979.

through an aperture in thecasing 3, and also through the cover-*plate 2, and having a milled head 7 secured to the upper end thereo'l abovethe cover plate. turning the head 7, it is apparent that the member 4 may be rotated upon the stud 5. A ratchet wheel 8 secured to the pin 6 is engaged by a pawl 9 mounted in the base of the casing 3, a spring 9a tending to hold the pawl against the ratchet wheel to :prevent the .said shaft and consequently the member f4 from rotating in other than the desired direction.

Mounted upc-n the upper face of the sides 4f ot' the member 4 is a ring-shaped disk l0, said disk being held in position upon the upper face of the member 4 by means of a retaining ring 1l secured lto the upper face oi the sides 4n outside of the said ring 10, the outer edge of the ringflt) vbeing beveled to underlie the correspondingly beveled edge ot the retaining ring` 11. The inner edge l()n of the ring 10 is toothed, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, and a pinion 12 carried by a pin 13, mounted in the cover plate 2, is adapted to engage `the teeth uponthe ring 10. so that the latter may be turned independently or' the member 4 upon which it is mounted. The pin 13 extends through the cover plate and has a milled head 14 upon the outer end whereby the samemay be turned in order to rotate the pinion 12. and a spring 15 normally retains the pin 13 in elevated position so that the pinion 12, lies out ot vcontact with the teeth uponv the ring 10, as shown in Fig. 7.

Extending through the sides oi the member 4 is a series of radial apertures 16, and the ring l0 is graduated and carries numbers corresponding with the said apertures 16 in the` said memher.

A peep hole 17 is .provided in the cover plate 2 above the ring 10 so that-the numbers marked thereon may be seen from the outside of the casing. ln the present instance, l have shown the number of apertures 16 in the member 4 to be thirty, and the scale 10 is graduated accordingly. All of the apertures 16 but one extend completely through the sides of the member 4, but this one aperture 16a is stopped, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, by means of a plug 18 in the outer end thereof.

Slidably mounted in the base or, the casing 3 is a. bolt member 19, said bolt member'hav ing an extension 2O passing through an ape-rture in the casing 3. The extension 20 is, in

the present instance, cylindrical in form, and is adapted to enter the apertures 16 and 16a in the member 4. 1n the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the extension 20 lies within the aperture 16a containing the plug 13, and it is clear that the said plug prohibits the said extension 20 from entering into the perture to the extent of which it is capable, and to the same extent it would enter any of the other apertures 16.

As already stated, the member 19 is adapted to slide back and forth in the casing 3,

` and a spring 21 interposed between the end sage of the said lmoved forward. the co-ver plate of the said member and theV inside of the casing3 exerts a pressure which tends to force the member forward so that the extension 20, if possible, will enter' one of the apertures 16 or 162L in the member 4. 1 screw 22, extends through the casing 3 and the spring 21, and into an aperture in the end of the member 19, and by this means, although the bolt vmember is permitted to slide back and forth', the spring is held in place between lthe end of the said member and the casing 3.

" A longitudinal slot 23 is provided in the vmember 19 to permit passage of the pin 6 through the same and to allow at the same time free sliding motion of the latch. Near the front of the member 19 is an aperture 24, having a `slot 25 extending therefrom towards the center of the said latch, and a detent 26 mounted in the top plate 2 extends downwardly into the aperture 24, as most clearly shown in Fig. The detent 26 has a head 27 upon the lower end thereof, said head being of such size as to fit neatly the laperture 24, and a portion of the member 19 is cut-'away at 23 beneath the slot 25 for the pashead 27 when the bolt is Vllhe detent 26 mounted in 2 extends through the top of said cover plate and has a knob 29 upon the upper end, and a spring 30 is adapted to hold the detent 26 in a normal elevated position in which the head 27 lies within the upper portion of the aperture 24 of the bolt member at a point above the cutaway portion 23 so that when the detent is in the normal position the member 29 is held against movement. When, however, the detent is forced downwardly by pressure upon the knob 29, the head 27 "s made to register with the cutaway portion 23, and the latch meinber 19 is then free to move forward 'under the pressure of the spring- 2l.

The rear end of the latch member 19 is forked, and between the two prongs 31, 31. of this forked portion is established a pin 32, said pin being mounted inthe casing 3 and extending through the cover plate 2, and a milled head 33 is secured to the top there of above the cover plate whereby the said pin may bel revolved. Suitably attached to the pin 32 and extending laterally through an aperture 34 in one of the'prongs 31, is an arm 35, said arm having secured to the outer end. thereof a spring 36, the other end of the spring being attached to a fixed pin 37 in the frame 3. This spring 36 tends to hold the arm in the normal forward position shown in Fig. 2. lNhen, however, thel pin 32 is turned in a clockwise direction by manipulation ofthe head 33, the arm 35 bears against the side of the aperture 34, and the bolt member 19 is thus forced backwardly against the pressure of the spring 21 and the projection 2O is withdrawn from the aperture 16 which it may occupy.

1n withdrawing the bolt member, the head 33 is turned until the detent 26 snaps up into the elevated position in which the head 27 lies within the upper yportion of the aperture 24, thereby retaining the member in the withdrawn position. rlhe head 33 then being released, the pin 32 will be rotated in an anti-clockwise 'direction and the arm 35 drawn back to the normal forward position by the tension of the spring 36. 1n this position of the pin 32, a recess or aperture 33 therein will come into registration with a small spring-pressed detent 39 mounted in the member 19, said detent having a spring 4() which exerts a pressure forcing the said detent forward so that it will enter the said recess 33,and in this manner the pin 32 is held against further rotation until the bolt member is again released and has moved forward. 'i

Mounted in casing 3 at one side of the bolt member is a detent 41 which is adapted to enter arecess 42 in the side of said latch memberl when the latter is in the extreme forward position so as to prevent thel further movement and withdrawal of the bolt. rThe detent 41 has a spring 43 connected therewith which exerts a pressure tending to' force the detent forward so that it will enter the recess 42 in suitable bearings within the the bolt member when .the said recess is brought'v forward into vregistration with the point of the detent. The detent 41 has attached to the rear thereof a substantially oval collar member 44, as most clearly shown in Figs. 5 and'6.

Mounted 'n the easing 3, in the present instance one at each side of the collar member 44, are binding posts 46 and 47, the binding post 46 having connected therewith a spring Contact member 43 which underlies the said collar portion 44, said spring contact member 43 also underlying a fixed contact member 49 secured to the binding post 47. A screwO` is mounted in a threaded sleeve 51 in the cover plate 2, the lower end of said screw extending through the collar 44 and normally bearing down upon the spring contact 43 and retaining the latter in a depressed position out of contact with the contact member 49, as most clearlv shown in Fig. 6. The screw 50, extending through the collar 44, does not interfere with the free movement of the detent 41. Secured in the upper portion of the sleeve 51 is a stop or plug 52, said plug beingsecured in the said sleeve in the present instance by means of a pin 53.

"Suitably attached to the opposite sides respectively of the bolt member 19 are metal contact members 54 and 55. Mounted in the casing 3 at one side of the latch member 19 adjacent the contact member 54 are two binding posts 56 and 57, said binding posts having connected thereto two spring-pressed contact points 56a and 57a, respectively, which bear against the sides of the latch member 19 and against the contact member 54 when the latch member is in such position as to bring the said contact member into registration therewith.

F ig. 2 shows the latch member 19 in position'in which said contact member 54 lies across the said contact points 56'a and 57a, this position of the member 19 being that assumed when the projection 20 occupies the aperture 16Z1 which contains the plug 18, as already described. In any other of the positions of the member 19, the member 54 will lie in contact with only one of the points 56a and 57a.

At the side of the member 19 opposite the contact member 54 is the contact member 55, and this contact member is adapted to register with contact points 58a and 59L secured to binding posts 58 and 59, respectively, mounted in the frame 3, the contact member Vbeing adapted to lie across the contact points 58*v and 592L when the bolt member assumes the extreme forward position, which latter position the bolt member assumes whenever the projection 20 enters any one of the apertures 16 in the member 4, instead of the aperture 16a which contains the plug 18.

The binding' posts 56 and 57 are connected by means of wires 60 with the ignition sysi tem of the motor vehicle to which this appliance may be attached, while the binding posts 58 and 59, and also the binding posts 46 and 47, are connected by means of wires 61, 61, with a suitable electrically-operated alarm, which will hereinafter be described.

Extending over the casing 1 and having its upper edges abutting' the'cover plate 2 is an outer casing 62, said outer casing enclosing a supporting frame or bracket 63, which is suitably secured to the under or outer side of the casing 1, the casing 62 being attached to the outer end of the bracket by means of a screw 64 whereby the said casing 62 is held in place. Secured to the bracket support 63 by means of screws 65, 65, is preferably an electric dry cell 66, and also secured in a suitable manner to the bracket support 63 is the bell apparatus 67, the bell 68 of which is-mounted in `theektreme lower portion of the casing 62, as clearly shown in F ig. 3. Suitable openings are formed in the casing 62to insure a clear sounding of the gong 68.

The wires 61 pass from the binding posts 46, 47, 58 and 59, over the top of the casing 3 and the member 4, and downwardly through a properly insulated aperture 69 in the'base of the casing 1 and are suitably attached to the binding posts 70, 70, of the dry cell 66 and the binding post 71 of the bell apparatus 67 in such manner as to complete the alarm circuit. The wires 60 extend from the binding posts 56 and 57 over the-top of the casing 3 and the member 4, and downwardly through a suitablev insulated aperture 72 in the base of thel casing 1, from there passing through the casing 62 andconnecting withthe ignition system of the motor-vehicle to which this device isV attached.

The operation of the device is as follows:

As previously stated, the circuit of the ignition system is closed and the motoroperable only when the bolt member 19 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, this position being that assumed when the projection 20 has entered and occupies the plugged aperture 16a. The operator.- then, on leaving his motor manipulates the knurled head 33 upon the pin 32 so as to withdraw the projection 2O ot the member 19 from the said plugged aperture 16a, said bolt member being retained in the withdrawn position by means ot the detent 26, in the manner previously described. As the member 19 is thuswith` drawn, the ignition circuit is broken since the contact member 54 passes out of contact with the contact point 56a. After withdrawing the member 19, the operator then .manipulates the milled head 7 thereby turning the apert-ured member 4 to a position in which the aperture 1.6iL containing the plug 18 lies 'out of registration with the projection 20 upon the bolt member. In turning the member 4, the scale 10 upon the upper face thereof is turned likewise, and sincethe operator of themotor alone knows the number as shown under the aperture 17 which indicates the proper operative position of the one plugged hole 16a, he alone-,canbring the said member back into the original position in which the said hole and the extension 2O are again brought into registration.

In setting this device, therefore, the operator tirst notes the number on the scale whichlies beneath the aperture 17 in the cover plate, this being the number which he must bringback to position underneath the said .aperture 17 in order to bring. the plugged*aperture 16nback into the position in which the extension 20 may enter, He then operates the milled 'head 7 so as to bring some other number under` the aperture 17, and if he is unable to see the numbers upon the scale through thesaid aperture, helmay `judge the, extent oi? the movement of the member i by rmeans oi" the ratchet and-pawl 8 and r9,.since these operate to stop the inember e in positions in which some one of the apertures or the spaces therebetween lies accurately in front of the extension 20.

' 16. .ln this-event, the member 19 In order to insure Any-one now attempting tostart the motor willv have, first, to close theignition circuit before he can operate the car, and it is rapparent that not being in possession of the key number, the chances are slight that he will be able to bring the member 4 back to the proper position, and the extension 20, when the member' 19 is released, willin all probability enter one or the other kof the holes is permitted to advance to its extreme tor-wardposition, and the ignition system still remains broken sincethe contact member 5d advances to a pointlwhere it is in contact with the contact point 56EL alone. On the other handy, the contact men'iber 55 is brought into position closing the Valarm circuit, and the alarm signal is therefore sounded. Also when this occurs, the detent il enters the recess 4t2, and locks the bolt memberl in the advanced position. The bolt member can now be brought back only by removing the plug 52 and the screw 50 from the sleeve 5l, and by inserting a wire or'similar small object through the aperture so as to exert a pressure upon the collar fili to withdraw thedetent. This, however, will consume considerable time, particularly when the screw 50 is 'formed with a large number oi? threads to the inch, and in the meantirnethe owner or watchman will be warned that some one is `tampering with the machine. i y

' lt will be noticed that immediately upon the withdrawal of the screw 50, the spring contact member @t8 is permitted to rise and comes into contact with the contact member 49, and in this'manner the alarm .circuit is again closed, so that even, after the'detent l1 has been withdrawn and the boltmember 19 brought back to the` starting position, the alarm willA continue to sound until the screw 50 is vagain inserted in the sleeve-51.

the bolt 19 springing as ar' orwardwhen released. as is permitted by theapertures 16 and-16d, the detent 39 is provided,the operation oi which has already i been described, and by this means the with..

v closed and to retain vanother operates the machine, sive attempts to Provision is made by the pinion v12 andthe drawing pin 32 cannot be used to allow the latch member to go forward slowly a little ata time, iny which case it might be possible for one to advance the latch member to the position in 'whichi the ignition circuit is it there by handI while or by succeslocate the proper aperture.

toothed inner edge of the ring 10` for permitting the operator to shift the ring so as tof-change the key number at will.

"ting the device, to bring rlhe` advantages kof this .device are amongv othersfcompactness, ease with which it may be installed, and the comparatively sure protection which it affords. y 4The device is adapted to be placed on the dash-board of a machine, and may take its place with thefother instruments thereon without detracting from thel appearance of the machine, butrather adding to it. lt isalso clear that the chances for obtaining the right combination decrease with the increase oi' thenumber of apertures in the member it, and it may be possible to make the actionv of the devicey even more complexthan in the particular embodiment shown, by making it necessary to bring the boltmember into registration with two-l or three or the apertures consecutively before it will be possible for the extension to enter the one aperture giving the proper connection. I y i .in the present embodiment, l' have shown the scale 1() in such position relative to the apertu' s 1G that the numbers -upon the scale aeree with the partitions4 between the apertures instead yof with the apertures u themselves, The peep hole 17 is also so arranged that .when the plugged .hole 16 :is in registration withthe projection Q0 of the latch member, the blank space upon the scale which follows the key number lies underneaththesaid peep hole so that in reset-- y the plugged hole back into proper starting position, the member turned until the proper reference number comes underneath the peep hole, and then is 'further turned vuntil the blank space io-llowing the said reference number lies beneath the peep hole, in which position of the member 4i; the projection 2O may enter the plugged hole. This is merely an additional safeguard, and need not 'be emplo-)fed `unless desired,v and it is apparent that the invention is subject to many changes and modilic-ations without departure from the essential features. y I

lclaimz' A y l. In a safety lock device, a plurality oiE pairs ot spaced contacts, a member adapted in different posit-ions to connect the contacts ol each of said pairs alternately, means for moving' the said member from the contactconnecting positions,v and means automatically :operable for locking` said member against Vn'iovementby said moving' n'ieans when said member has assumed a position connecting one of said pairs of contacts.

2. ln a safety lock device, pairs ot vspaced contacts, a member automatically movable to yconnect the contacts zot each of said pairs alternately, manually operable means for withdrawing the said 'member from.' the contact-connecting positions, manually releasable` means Jfor retainingthe member in the said withdrawn posilio a plurality o'E y controlling the movement of said member` to then respective contact-connecting positions, and means automatically operable for locking said member against withdrawal by said withdrawing'means when said memberhas assumed position connecting one oi said pairs oi contacts.

3. In a safety lock device, a plurality of pairs or spaced contacts, a member automatically movable to connect the contacts of each ci said pairs alternately, manually operable means for withdrawing the said member from the contact-connecting position, manually releasable 4means for retaining the member in the said withdrawn position, and means 'for rendering said witbdrawing means inoperable after each withdrawing operation until said member has again advanced to contact-connecting position.

Il( In a safety lock device, the combination of 4a plurality-'oi` pairs of spaced contacts, a member automatically movable to connect thel ycontacts olE each' of said pai'rsalter-y nately, a casing enclosing said contacts and member, means manually operable from the exterior of said casing for withdrawing said member from' ythe contact-'connecting 'position, means manually releasable from the exterior of saidcasmg for 'retaining the member in the s'aid""withdrawn position', means enclosed by said casing and automatically operable 'for locking said member against withdrawalhby said'l withdrawing means when it'has assumed position connecting oneof said pairs of ycontacts,"`and manually operable' means in the interior of said casing for releasing said locking means.

5. In 'a safety loclrdevice, the combination of'a plurality of pairs of spaced contacts, a switch member electrically connected in parallel with one of said pairs of contacts, al member' automatically movable to connect the contacts of eachi of'said pairs alternately, a casing enclosing saidfcontact's7 switch and member, means manually operable Afrom the exterior of said casing for withdrawing'the said memrber trom'vthe contact-connecting position, means manually releasable from thev exterior of said'casing for retaining the member in said withdrawn position, means permitting `release of said locking means from t'he exterior or said cas-- ing, andI means whereby suchr'elease of said locking meansl entailsthe closing of the said switch.'

Y 6. In a safety lock device, the combina-- tion of two pairs of spaced contacts, a membe automatically movable to connect the contacts oi"each oftsaidpairs alternately, manually operable means for withdrawing the said member frointhe contact-connecting position, manually releasable means for retaining" the member in the said withdrawn position, manually adjustable selective means controlling the movement of said member to the respective contact-connecting positions, means for indicating the positions ot the selector permitting movement of said member to the respective contact-connecting positions, and means automatically operable for locking said member against movement by said withdrawing means when it has assumed a position connecting` one of said pairs of contacts.

T. In a safety lock device, the combina tion of a plurality of pairs or spaced con tacts, of a movable member adapted in diit'erent positions to connect the respective contacts of each of said pairs,`an element having a plurality of apertures adapted to be entered by said movable membeigvsaid apertures being'of differing depths whereby the said member is retained in the rcspective contact-connecting positions, and means for adjusting said apertured element to bring the desired aperture in positionto be entered by said member.

8'. In a'saiety lock device, the combina-- tion with a plurality of pairs of spaced'contacts` yoi a movable member adapted in consecutive positions to" connect the respective contacts of each pair, an element for 4regulating the position or said member so that the latter is retained in the respective contact-connecting positions,r and means for locking lsaid member against `movement when it has assumed a position connecting,` the contacts oi one ont said pairs.

l 9.v In a safety lock device, the combination. with a plurality of pairs of spaced contacts, of a movable member adapted in consecutive positions to connect :the contacts of each oit said'pairs, means for regulating the position or" saidmember whereby themember is held in the respective contact-connecting positions, means normally operableior withdrawing said member from contactconnecting position. and means operable `when the member is in position connecting one oft said pairs oi contactsfor preventing operationor said withdrawing means.

' l0. In a safety lock device,'the combination with a rplurality ot pairs of spaced contacts` a member movable to positions connecting` consecutively the contacts of each of Isaid pairs, a casing enclosing said contacts and membenmeans operable from the exterior of said casing for withdrawing the said 'member from contact-connecting lposition, and'means in the interior of said casing for preventing the operation 'of said withdrawing means when the said member is'in a' position connecting one of said pairs of'contacts. 1 f

ll. In a safety lock device, the combination with `a plurality or pairs of spacedl contacts, of a member movable to positions consecutively connecting the respective contacts et of said pairs, a switch. member eleca yand, means y respect tothe apertured member to change releasable means while the men-'fliergis means.

trically connected in parallel with one of said pairs `of contacts, a casing enclosing said contacts, switch element and member, means operable from the exterior of said casing for vwithdrawing said member from contact-connecting position, means in the interior of saidcasing for -preventing withdrawal of said member when the latter is in position connecting one lof said pairs of contacts, and means entailing the closing cf said switch element whereby said preventing means may be manipulated from the exterior of said casing to permit withdrawal of said member.

12.1n a safety loclr device, bination with a plurality of pairs of spaced contacts, of a member movable to positions consecutively connecting the respective 'contacts of each of said pairs, a switch element electrically connected in parallel with one of said pairs of contacts, a casing enclosing said contacts., member and the comswitch element, means operable from the eX- terior of said casing for withdrawing said vmember from contact-connecting position, an element in the interior of said casing for preventing withdrawal of said member from position connecting one of said pairs of contacts, an vaperture in said casing providing an opening for the manipulation of said element to permit withdrawal of said member, and a plug in said aperture adapted when in position to retain the said switch element in open position, said switch element closing when the plug is withdrawn.

13. In a safety loclr device, the combination with a plurality of pairs of spaced contacts, of a member lautomatically movable to positions 'consecutively connectino` the contacts of each of said pairs, a member having a plurality of apertures adapted to be entered by said member, said apertures being of differing depths whereby the movement ofl said member to the respective contact-connecting ,positions 'is controlled, means for moving said apertured member to bring any desired aperture into position to be entered by said element, anelement having characters thereon to indicate the respective apertures, for shifting said element with the i. relation between apertures.

said characters and +14. ln -a safety loclrdevice, the combinationwith `an automatically movable circuit- Vclosing member, of means for withdrawing the member fromcircuit-closing position, for retaining the member in withdrawn position, and means for rendering-said withdrawing means inoperable held by said retaining n Y 15. In a safety lock device, the combination lwith an automatically movablercircuitclosing member, of a rotatable shaft, elements interconnecting said shaft and member whereby rotation of the shaft effects withdrawal of the member from circuitclosing position, releasable means for retaining the member in withdrawn position, and means for preventing rotation of said shaft when the member is in said withdrawn position. v

16.1na safetyloclr device, the combination with an automatically movable member, of releasable means for retaining the member in a retracted position, selective. means for determining the` position to which the member advances when released from the retaining means, means for returning fthe member to the retracted from the advanced positions, and means operable in one of the advanced positions for preventing return of the member to retracted position.

17. In a safety lock device, the combination with an automatically movablemember,

of releasable means for retaining the member in a retracted position, selective means for determining theV position to whichl the member advances when released from the retaining means, means for returning the member to the retracted from the advanced positions, a pair of spaced contacts adapted to be connected by the member .when the latter is in one of the advanced'positions, and means operable in one of the advanced positions for preventing return of the member to retracted position. s

18. ln a safety locl device, the combination with an automatically movable member, of releasable means for retaining the vmember in a retracted position, selective means for determining the position to whichthe member advances when releasedfrom the retaining means, means for returning the member to the retracted from the advanced positions, means operable in one of the advanced positions for preventing return of the member to retracted position, l,means for releasing said return preventing means, a pair of electrica-l contacts, and means operatively associated with said releasing lmeans for connecting the contacts whereby release of ,the return preventing meansy entails the` connecting of the contacts.

19. In a safety lock device, the combination with avmember automatically movable into `a plurality of advanced positions, of

means operable 1n one ofthe advancedlpositions for preventing withdrawal of the member, meansfor releasing the member from the withdrawal preventing means, a pair of electrical contacts, and means operatively associated with said releasing means for con-k necting the contacts whereby release of the withdrawal preventing means entails the connecting of the contacts. f

20.1n a safety lock-device, the combination with a member automatically movable into a plurality of advanced positionsaof a latch automatically movable in one of the advanced positions of the member to retain the member in the advanced position, means for releasing the latch to permit withdrawal of the member including an element normally preventing access to said latch, a pair of electrical contacts normally disconnected by said element, and means whereby said contacts are connected upon removal or' the element to give access to the latch.

21. In a safety lock device, the combination with a member automatically movable into a plurality of advanced positions, a latch automatically movable in one of the advanced positions of the membei` to retain the member in the advanced position, means for withdrawing the latch to release the member including an element normally preventing access to said latch, a pair of contacts, resilient means tending to connect said contacts and retained in a disconnecting position by the said element when the latter is in the normal position, and means for removing said element to give access to the latch.

22. In a safety lock device, the combination with a member automatically movable into a plurality of advanced positions, manually operable means for withdrawing the said member from the advanced positions, manually releasable means for retaining the member in the said withdrawn position, and means for rendering the withdrawing means inoperable after each withdrawing operation until the said member has again moved into an advanced position.

GEORGE A. SOKOLOVE. 

